Grand design on a small scale; AD showcases a handful of charming structures that evoke an idealized way of life

Stephen Shadley restored six cabins at his Catskills retreat. Before, “the cabins were white with green trim, so they popped out of the landscape too much. I wanted the structures to fit the surroundings,” says the designer, who painted the exteriors “a rich Adirondack red.” Pictured: Pine Cabin has been converted into an eating and changing facility. “The dining area was a vacant box with sagging floors,” says Shadley, who refurbished and painted the floors and added pine paneling. February 2003